SF CO. LEAGUE DIV 5: Sneem/Derrynane 3-6; Austin Stacks B 1-6.
Our B team, back in the Senior League for the first time since 1993, travelled to Sneem last Sunday (22nd March) and after a very good first half ran out of steam a little in the second half and eventually came home empty-handed.
Played in summer-like conditions we started well with William Kirby and Alan Duggan lording the centre. Half way through the first half we led by two to one, with Danny Carroll and Darren Bastible on target for us. Sneem came into the game a little more in the second quarter and as half time approached we were ahead still by one (0-4 to 0-3) after further points from Sean Dukes and Kyle Fitzgibbon
Then in one last attack before the break Jack O’Shea, in one of his many runs up-field from his half back position, found Sean Dukes with a perfect pass and Sean unleashed an unstoppable shot to the net to put us four clear at half time (1-4 to 0-3).
The home side had a good start to the second half, pointing after two minutes, and in the next five minutes had turned this game in their favour with two quick goasl, After another Sean Dukes point in the 39th minute Sneem got through for their third goal in the 43rd minute to put them five ahead,
In the closing period of the game we managed just one more point, from the impressive Jack O’Shea, while Sneem added two more to leave them with two goals to spare at the end.
Nonetheless team mentors Tim McMahon, Colm Mangan and John O’Sullivan will be pleased enough with the performance of our lads and, with others to come back into the fold, can look forward to the rest of the season with some optimism.
Team: Sean Purcell, Paul Galvin, Barry Walsh, Dylan Harnett, Cathal O’Reilly, Denis O’Neill, Jack O’Shea (0-1), William Kirby, Alan Duggan (Capt), Darren Bastible (0-1), Ciaran Flanagan, Sean Dukes (1-2), Danny Carroll (0-1), Shane Walsh, Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-1).
Subs: Ciaran Murphy (42m), Eoin Galvin (48m), John Murphy (57m).
Round 2 is scheduled for next Saturday evening when we are due to play Ballyduff in Connolly Park at 5pm. Ballyduff won their opening game last Sunday when they had two points to spare over Ballylongford (2-10 to 1-11) in Ballyduff.
THE LAST TIME: our B team played in Div. 5 of the Senior League was on the October Bank Holiday Monday, 25th Oct 1993, That day we played Brick Rangers in Connolly Park – the last game of the season – and we lost by 2-12 to 2-5.
The team that lined out that day was: Kevin Healy, Ger Scollard, Denny Walsh, Brian Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Eddie Dowling, Brendan Shalvey, Charles McMahon, Liam Walsh (1-1), Seamus Smith (0-1), Tommy Ryan (0-2), Richard O’Brien, Mark Teahan, Michael Friel (1-0), Michael Tangney (0-1).
SENIOR FOOTBALL: With our round 1 game (against Waterville) put back to the first Sunday of May,
our Senior A team commence their Co. League campaign on Sunday next (29th March) with a trip to Kilcummin. Last Sunday Kilcummin had a massive 16 points to spare in their first round win away to Glenbeigh/Glencar (3-15 to 0-8).
This will be our 11th meeting in total in the League. Of the ten meetings to date (the first in the 2001 campaign) we have won 7 and lost 3. It’s interesting to note that we have won all our five away games and all our three losses took place in Connolly Park. Kilcummin put us to the pin of our collars last season in Connolly Park when we had just one point to spare in a top of the table clash (0-13 to 0-12).
So we will be hoping that our away form against the East Kerry boys will continue next Sunday.
And good news at the start of the new season – all last season’s Mentors are back on duty again and added to Stephen’s team this year are two Rock legends – Timmy Sheehan who has 3 Co. Championship medals (1973, 1975 and 1976) and an All Ireland Club Championship medal (1977) to his credit and John Walsh who won two Co. Championship medals in 1986 and 1994. William Kirby is also on the selection team this year and he will, of course, be performing this role as well as his player role. Best of luck to all for the season ahead.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our final round of the Town League, the re-scheduled game against Na Gaeil was postponed for the second time last week. No new date has been fixed as we write.Our next outing will be in round 4 of the Co. League (at home to O’Rahillys) which is scheduled to go ahead on Good Friday (3rd April) at 6.30pm. The 5th and final round will also be at home and this game, against De. Crokes, is fixed for Friday, 17th April at 6.45pm, that’s just two days after the Kerry Minors’ first round tie in the Munster Championship against Clare in Austin Stack Park.
BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. Phone Ian from 7pm at 066 7126942 for bookings.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Monda’s (16th March) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 6, 15, 16 and 31.
The €20 Prizes went to Helen Lynch and Werner Heinrich, both c/o Denis O’Connor; John Keating and Noreen Lynch, both c/o Carmel Quilter; and Helen McSweeney, c/o The Club.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died during the past week – William C. Lehane, Killeen Heights and late of Gallowsfields and Woking (England); Anne Cox, Riverside, Oakpark; and Mary Moynihan (nee O’Shea), Killerisk and late of Tonevane.
